Saturday, 30 June 2012

GUELPH, Ontario, June 29, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - On behalf of the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport), Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, today announced the Government of Canada's contribution to the Canadian Amateur Wrestling Association. This funding is to support the 2012 Canada Cup of International Wrestling, which is being held in Guelph on June 30 and July 1, 2012.

"The Government of Canada, through Sport Canada's Hosting Program, is pleased to contribute to this important wrestling tournament," said Minister of State Gosal. "I know our Canadian athletes will be competing at their peak in preparation to represent us at the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games."

"Sports and sportsmanship are an integral part of our culture, and we are proud of our wrestling athletes and all they have accomplished," said Minister Finley. "The hosting of international sport events like this one not only benefits Canadian athletes, but also has a positive impact on the local economy and the community."

The Canadian Amateur Wrestling Association (Wrestling Canada Lutte) is the national sport governing body for Olympic-style wrestling in Canada. The association's role is to encourage and develop the widest participation and highest proficiency in Olympic wrestling in Canada.

The Government of Canada is the single largest contributor to sport in Canada and supports participation and excellence from playground to podium. Funding of $45,000 has been provided for this event through Sport Canada's Hosting Program. In 2011-2012, the Canadian Amateur Wrestling Association received more than $1.8M from the Sport Support Program, and over $600K was provided through the Athlete Assistance Program to support 42 men and women wrestling athletes.

Thursday, 28 June 2012

FERGUS, Ontario June 25, 2012 - Health and Safety Watch.com - With the temperatures rising this summer, Canadians are starting to enjoy the beach season and various outdoor activities. People should be reminded about safety when using sunscreen products. Special attention must be paid to products used for infants and toddlers. The following information has been adapted from Health Canada and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) documents. Click on Sources tab for original articles.

Prolonged exposure to the sun can cause sunburns and skin cancer. It is important to wear sunscreen, along with other sun protective measures, to protect yourself from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Exposure to UV radiation, primarily UVB, can cause sunburns and may eventually result in skin cancer. It is important to note that while sunscreens can help reduce sunburn, they are not as effective against the other harmful effects of UV rays, like premature aging of the skin and depression of the immune system.

All sunscreens have a sun protection factor (SPF) on their labels. The SPF represents the length of time that sunscreen-protected skin can be exposed to UVB rays before a minimal redness (erythema) appears, compared to the length of time it takes on unprotected skin. In other words, it indicates how much longer you can be exposed to the sun before getting a sunburn.

The amount of time it takes for unprotected skin to burn depends on skin type. In general, fair skin burns more quickly than darker skin. If you have the type of skin that would burn after 20 minutes in the sun without protection, then the proper application of sunscreen with SPF 15 would allow you to spend up to 300 minutes (15 times longer) in the sun without getting a sunburn. However, this does not mean that your skin is protected from all UV effects. Damage to your skin, other than sunburning, may have already started.

How sunscreens protect your health:

There are many different brands of sunscreen available. They are classified according to their active ingredients, as some products contain chemical filters, some contain physical filters, and some contain both.

...Chemical filters absorb some of the UV radiation and convert it into heat. There are more chemical filters that absorb UVB rays than absorb UVA rays.
...Physical filters are small particles (usually zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) that scatter and reflect both UVB and UVA rays.

Recommended Actions:

Infants and toddlers

Contrary to common belief, it is usually not recommended to use sunscreen products for infants. The best approach is to keep infants under 6 months out of the sun, and to avoid exposure to the sun in the hours between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when ultraviolet (UV) rays are most intense.

Babies' skin is much thinner than that of adults, and it absorbs the active, chemical ingredients in sunscreen more easily. Infants have a high surface-area to body-weight ratio compared to older children and adults. Both these factors mean that an infant's exposure to the chemicals in sunscreens is much greater, increasing the risk of allergic reaction or inflammation.

The following tips will ensure protection of your child:

...The best protection is to keep your baby in the shade, if possible.
...If there's no natural shade, create your own with an umbrella or the canopy of the stroller.
...Hydrate your baby/toddler by giving formula, breast milk and other liquids to drink.
...If there's no way to keep an infant out of the sun, you can apply a small amount of sunscreen—with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15—to small areas such as the cheeks and back of the hands.
...It is recommended testing your baby's sensitivity to sunscreen by first trying a small amount on the inner wrist.
...Avoid sunscreens containing the insect repellent DEET on infants, particularly on their hands. Young children may lick their hands or put them in their mouths. According to AAP, DEET should not be used on infants less than 2 months old

Adults and older children

Protect your health by using a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Look for claims on the label indicating that the product is resistant to removal (e.g., water resistant, very water resistant, waterproof).

For best results, be sure to follow the instructions on the product label. Use the recommended amount of sunscreen and respect the waiting period between application and exposure to the sun. If you are sweating heavily or swimming, reapply sunscreen often to get the best protection.

Steps to protect yourself against UV exposure include:

...If possible, avoid being in the sun between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
...Look for shade, stay under a tree, or use an umbrella.
...During outdoor activities, wear sunglasses to protect your eyes. When the UV index is three or higher, you should also wear protective clothing and a large-brimmed hat.
...Remember to apply sunscreen to all exposed areas of your skin.

Welcome!

With almost 3,000 members, the Guelph Wellington Seniors Association is one of the largest organizations of its kind in Canada. We have a straightforward mission..."To empower older adults to be active, to be involved and to age successfully."

We are a non-profit, registered charity. The GWSA partners with the City of Guelph in the operation of the Evergreen Seniors Community Centre, a state-of-the-art recreation facility.

The GWSA also operates in other locations such as the West End Community Centre, St. Paul's Lutheran Church and, in the not-too-distant future, will be a key Partner with the City in the design and use of the new South End Community Centre.

GWSA makes available some 90 organized programs, activities and services throughout the year as well as special events and public interest forums.

We are supported by the active participation of the more than 500 volunteers who make it all possible.

GWSA Golf Group

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GWSA Golf Group

If you are looking to play golf with fun loving golfers, then the Evergreen Seniors Golf group is the place for you.

Membership in the group provides an opportunity to play non-competitive golf at a variety of local courses at a discounted rate. The Evergreen Seniors Golf group plays every Monday, from the first Monday of May through to the last Monday of September. The golf season for our group concludes with a nine hole scramble and luncheon. A mini golf vacation to Niagara Falls in September is also available to members.

This is an all-inclusive club for seniors with many lady members, some husband and wife teams, some golfers that play nine holes and others that play eighteen. If you are a beginner, an average duffer or better golfer, you will enjoy the relaxed and fun atmosphere of this club.

All you need to do is be a registered member of the Guelph Wellington Seniors Association and pay a modest fee to join the golf group - for 2013, the fee is $10 + HST.